Grenade or pressure container



Sept. 20, 1932. B. c. GOSS GRENADE'OR PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed 001;. l, 1931 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 PATENT OFFIQE BYRON G. GOSS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO GBENADE R PRESSURE CONTAINER Application filed October 1, 1931. Serial No. 566,838.

This invention relates to hand grenades of the type which are fired by an explosive cap or charge, the explosion destroying a seal and thereby releasing the high pressure contents of the grenade which pass through the destroyed seal.

An object of the invention is to provide a grenade or container having a center of gravity close to its wall, and in which the contents are under high pressure, the grenade being closed by a removable closure which contains an easily destructible seal, and which seal is burst or destroyed by a.relatively mild charge of explosive which does not otherwise damage the container.

A further object is to provide a preferably spherical vessel wherein liquids may be confined under high gas pressure, a discharge conduit or tube for said liquids, said tube having a destructible seal and a weighted end on the tube at said seal, the weighted end being in close proximity to the wall of the spherical vessel, the combined weights of the outlet end of the discharge tube and its inner Weighted end locating the center of gravity of the vessel close to the vessel wall near the seal on its discharge tube, whereby the spherical vessel after having been thrown and coming to rest will assume a position which will insure the complete discharge of the contents of the vessel.

A further object is to provide a spraying vessel charged with a liquid and gas under high pressure, which is to be automatically 38 discharged by an explosive, and which when fired will destroy a, seal and'will discharge the liquid contents asa high pressureliquid jet which latter becomes a spray and spreads over a very large area.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon read? ing the specification.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical plan view of a loaded spherical grenade before firing, with the internal discharge conduit or tube shown in dotted lines, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a loaded spherical grenade in the position of rest assumed after it has been thrown but before it has fired showing the position of the weighted end of the discharge conduit or tube and also of the bouchon head on the lower side of the grenade, due to the low center of gravity of the assembled loaded grenade, with the seal end of the discharge tube directly above the lowest part of the grenade, whereby the contents of the grenade will be completely emptied after the grenade has fired and the seal destroyed.

In the illustrations, a grenade body 1, which is preferably spherical and made from metal stampings, is welded or brazed at the central band 2, and is provided with a welded or brazed threaded neck 3. A separable metal closure discharge conduit or tube 4; is welded to the threaded thimble 5, the tube 4.- being suitably curved so that its end provided with a destructible thin metal seal 6. will preferably project radially very close to the wall of the spherical vessel, the seal 6 being made of readily fusible metal such as zinc, lead, soft fusible alloys, or the like, and soldered to the end of the tube 4. The end of the tube 4 adjacent the seal 6, is heavily loaded with a lead weight 7 and will therefore cooperate with the mass of the grenade in establishing a center of gravity near the adjacent Wall of the grenade, and when the grenade is thrown, will insure the grenade coming to rest in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the seal 6 located at the lowest point of the grenade, and after having been destroyed will effect the complete removal of its contents. Within the thimble 5 is inserted the detachable bouchon head 8, provided with an extension tube 9 in which is inserted the time fuse 10, the latter being provided with the match head 11 at one end, and the explosive 12 at the other end in close proxfrom 75 to 100 pressure for any desired imity to the seal 6. The bouchon head 8 is provided with the handle 13 and cap 18 held in place by the removable cotter pin 14:, the latter being withdrawn by the ring 15 when the grenade is thrown; as soon as the handle is detached the spripg actuated striker 16 flies over and strikes the primer 17, F 2, firing the latter and thereby igniting the match head 11, time fuse 10, and the explosive 12; the heat generated by the explosive 12 melts or destroys the seal 6, thereby providing an opening through which the high pressure contents of the grenade enter the tube 4 and pass through the discharge passages 20 in the bouchon head 8, the discharge,

liquid issuing as a high pressure liquid jet which contains dissolved gas, the dissolved gas expanding and forming a highv pressure spray or mist which spreads over a considerable area. The grenade may be charged to about the level 21 with a variety of liquids 22, which it is desired to discharge as a spray; the space 23, above the liquid is charged with the gas under high pressure for example pounds pressure; the gas may be inserted as solid carbon dioxide, which upon warming will assume the gaseous state,

or the space may be charged with liquefied ethyl chloride,.methyl chloride, or other normally gaseous compounds which may be readily liquefied; or the space 23 may be charged with compressed air, compressed nitrogen, compressed carbon dioxide or other compressed gases, all of which dissolve to' some extent in the liquid.. The liquid 22 may consist of tetra chloride of carbon, which is an excellent agent for extinguishing fires, and when charged with the liquid and gas the grenade may be thrown into a burning building, and upon the destruction of the seal 6,

the carbontetra chloride will be automaticah ly sprayed by the pressure of the carbon dioxide orother gas through the passages .20, and be distributed over a large area as a high pressure spray or other fire extinguishing liquids may be used. The liquid 22 may also consist of. insecticides, for use in spraying agricultural areas which areinfected with destructive insects, etc. Other liquids which it is desired to spray or disperse under high purpose may also be placed in the grenade, such as disabling gas producing chemicals used in chemical warfare, and by the police authorities in the capture of criminals.

In charging, the vessel is filled to about the level indicated at 21, and solid carbon dioxide or other pressure producing agent added, the tube 4 with the nipple 5 is then quickly inserted and screwed down tight. The charged grenade may now be placed in storage or shipped. When it is desired to use the grenade, the bouchon head 8 is supplied with the fuse 10 and associated firing 'ele-' ments 11 and -1 2 ,-and the primer 17, and the conduit constructed with a heavy inlet end located so as to establish a predetermined center of gravity .near the wall within said vessel.

2. A vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, a discharge conduit associated with said vessel, said discharge conduit comprising a tube extending Within said vessel, said tube provided with a weighted portion,

a destructible seal on said tube adjacent said weighted portion, said weighted portion cooperating with the mass of said vessel to establish a predetermined center of gravity of the vessel close to said seal.

3. A. vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, comprising a discharge tube extending within said vessel, said discharge tube having a weighted end, a destructible seal on said tube, said seal located adjacent the inner wall of said vessel, said weighted tube end cooperating with. a mass of the vessel to establish a center of gravity close to said seal, and means to destroy said seal.

4. A vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, comprising a discharge tube extending within said vessel, said discharge tube having a weighted end, a destructible seal on said tube, the end of said tube bearing the seal projecting toward the inner wall of the vessel, said weight being so located as to cooperate with the mass-of the vessel to establish a center of gravity adjacent said seal, said seal facing the wall of said vessel and positioned to drain the contents of said vessel, and means to destroy said-seal.

5. A vessel adapted to containliquids under pressure, an internal discharge conduit therefore,'sa1d discharge conduit constructed and located so as to establish a predetermined center of gravity near the wall of said vessel, a destructible seal on said conduit arranged to be close to the inner wall of the said vessel, a weighted end on said conduit, an explosive charge in said conduit, and means to explode said explosive charge.

6. A vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, an internal discharge conduit therefore, said discharge conduit constructed and located so as to establish a predetermined center of gravity near the wall of said vessel, a destructible seal on said conduit arranged to be close to the inner wall of said vessel, a weighted end on said conduit, an explosive charge in said conduit, said explosive charge located adjacent said destructible seal, and means to explode said explosive an internal discharge concluit associated with said vessel, said dlschargeconduit constructed and located so as to establish a predetermined center of gravity near the wall within said vessel,a destructible seal on the' inner end of said conduit, and a detachable bouchon head for the outer end of said conduit.

8. A vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, an internal discharge conduit associated with said vessel, said discharge conduit constructed and located so as to establish a predetermined center of gravity near the wall within said vessel, a destructible seal on the inner end of said conduit, a detachable bouchon head for the outer end of said conduit, and said bouchon head provided with passages adapted to spray said liquids as discharged.

9. A vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, comprising a discharge conduit extending within said vessel, said discharge conduit having a weighted end, a destructible seal on said conduit, said seal located adjacent the inner wall of said vessel, said weighted conduit end cooperating with a mass of the vessel to establish a center of gravity close to said seal, means to destroy said seal, a bouchon head on the outer end of said conduit, and said bouchon head provided with passages adapted to spray said liquids as discharged. 7

10. A vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, an internal discharge conduit therefore, said discharge conduit constructed and located so as to establish a predetermined center of gravity near the wall of said vessel, a destructible seal on said conduit arranged to be close to the inner wall of said vessel, a weighted end on said conduit, a bouchon head on the outer end of said conduit, said bouchon head provided with passages adapted to spray said liquids as discharged, an explosive charge associated with said bouchon head, said explosive charge located adjacent said destructible seal.

11. A spraying device for liquids comprising a vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, a discharge conduit, said conduit extending within said vessel and terminating near the wall thereof, a weight on the end of said conduit, a destructible seal on the end of said conduit, said weight located to establish a predetermined center of gravity in said vessel, said seal facing and close to the inner wall of said vessel, means to discharge the contents of said vessel as spray jets, and means to destroy said seal.

12. A spraying device for liquids comprising a vessel adapted to contain liquids under pressure, a discharge conduit, said conduit extending within said vessel and terminating near the wall thereof, a weight on the end of said conduit, a destructible seal on the end of said conduit, said weight located to establish a predetermined center of gravity in said vessel, said seal facing and close to the inner wall of said vessel, means to discharge the contents of said vessel as spray jets, an explosive within said conduit, means to fire said explosive and thereby destroy said seal.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

BYRON G. GOSS. 

